[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 13, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H5374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               TAX RELIEF

  (Mr. ARMEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, the American people are overtaxed. They pay 
too much income tax, they pay too much sales tax, they pay taxes on 
their savings, they pay taxes on their investments, and they pay taxes 
when they die.
  In fact, Federal taxes consume about 21 percent of national income, 
the highest proportion since World War II. But Mr. Speaker, help is on 
the way. In the coming days, the House will pass a tax bill that says 
to America, we think you deserve a long overdue refund for the surplus 
you created.
  Mr. Speaker, make no mistake about it, our first priority is to save 
social security and Medicare for future generations of seniors. In 
fact, for every dollar of the surplus that we use for tax relief, there 
are $2 set aside for social security and Medicare.
  I am happy to say, Mr. Speaker, that just yesterday at the White 
House the President agreed with the Republicans in the House and Senate 
that we ought to lock up that Medicare and social security surplus 
first. That is what we intend to do.
  When Members hear the talk about how our tax cuts are taking money 
away from social security and Medicare, remember this, Mr. and Mrs. 
America, we will lock up our social security and Medicare, our 
retirement security fund, first, $2 for every $1 we will subsequently 
give in tax relief.
  We will give tax relief if people are taxed for getting married, we 
will give tax relief if people are taxed for trying to go to school, we 
will give tax relief if they are taxed for getting buried, and we will 
give tax relief if people just have a general income and need some 
across-the-board relief.
  In fact, the benefits here will go to the American people in better 
jobs, better economic growth, better employment opportunities, and more 
take-home pay, and that, Mr. Speaker, is what freedom is all about.

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